Line casting machine



June 6, 1933. E w SEVER|N 1,913,216

LINE CASTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 51, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 1933. F. w. SEVERIN LINE CASTING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 51, 1931 Patented June 6, 1933 unrrs STATES FRANK W. FSEVERIZN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LINE .oasrrno MACHINE Application filed December 31, 1931. Serial 1%. 584.,135.

The invention relates generally to machines for casting lines of type for printing purposes. More particularly the invention relates to that type of line casting machine 5; which is driven by an electric motor and embodies (1) a horizontally extending shaft which is known as an intermediate shaft and is disposed atone side of the main frame of the machine and serves to drive the keyboard mechanism and the assembling and distributing mechanisms for the matrices; (2) a clutch which is located at theback of the machine and comprises a loosely mounted, motor-driven wheel and radially movable clutch shoes which are disposed within the wheel and are adapted, when shiftedinto engagement with the inner periphery of the wheel, to drive a countershaft from the Wheel; and (3) a cam shaft which is disposed at the other side of the main frame of the machine, is driven from the countershaft by a pinion and gear connection and operates, when driven, to drive the slug-ejecting mechanism, the pot cam, the pump cam, the first and second justification cams, the mold-turn ing cam, the first elevator cam, the distributor-shifting cam, the elevator transfer .and line delivery cam and other operating parts of the machine. f

I'Ieretofore, it has been customary in connection with a line casting machineofthis type, to provide the rotor shaft of the electric motorwith a pinion and to drive the clutch wheel by a gear which is secured to one side of the wheel and meshes with the pinion. It has also been customary to drive the intermediate sh aft from the clutch wheel by means of a flat endless beltwhich extends around the clutch wheel and a pulley on the interme diate shaft. In practice it has been found that in a drive of this character, the pinion on the motor and the gear on the clutch wheel wear rapidly and transpositions in type setting and faulty distribution of the matrices often occur. The wear of the pinion and gear is due to possible misalignment ofthe gear teeth and to the pinionand gear running out of true pitch linep It is also dueto the fact that the pinion is extremelyysmall in order that y there is the necessary speed reduction between the motor and the clutch. The transpositions in type setting and the faulty distribution of the matrices are attributable to the fact that the belt between the clutch wheel and the intermediate shaft slips after it stretches and becomes worn.

One object of the present invention is to provide a line casting machine which is an improvement upon previously designed machines of the same general type by virtue of '60 thefact that it comprehends a novel drive between the electric motor and the intermediate and cam shafts whereby the usual pin ion and gear connection between the rotor of the motor and the clutch wheel is eliminated and slippage in the drive of the inter mediate shaft is avoided. In general this drive comprises an endless belt between a motor-driven pulley and the clutch wheel and a second endless belt between another motor- '70 driven pulley and a pulley on the intermediate shaft. An advantage of utilizing an endless belt between the motor and the clutch wheel in lieu of a pinion and gear connection is that the machine runs quietly and the wear factor is reduced to a minimum. In addition, there is sufficient flexibility to. take up the shock which results when the. clutch shoes are shifted into engagement with the inner periphery of the wheel in order to effect a driving connection between the cam shaft and the clutch. An advantage of utilizing an endless belt between the motor and the intermediate shaftis that the load is distributed and the belt construction may be such that slippage in the drive of the intermediate shaft may be avoided.

Another object of the invention is to provide a line casting machine of the character under consideration in which the electric motor for driving the intermediate and cam shafts is of the geared head type and the two pulleys for driving the clutch wheel and intermediate shaft from the motor are mounted on. a shaft which is driven by the geared head of the motor. .A further object of the invention is to provide a line casting machine of the type to which the invention relates, in which the electric motor for driving the cam and intermediate shafts is positioned above the clutch and is supported so that it may be moved vertically so as to tighten the belt for the clutch wheel and may be moved horizontally so as to tighten the belt for the intermediate shaft.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a line casting machine in which the driving mechanism thereof permits of ready installation, repair and adjustment and is exceedingly efiicient in operation.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present construction will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description to those who are skilled in the art.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by the claims at the conclusion here f.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a line casting machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view, illustrating in detail the manner in which the motor is supported so that it may be shifted horizontally so as to tighten the belt between the motor and the intermediate shaft;

Figure 3 is a rear view, illustratii'rg the construction of the bracket which supports the electric motor and exhibiting the manner in which the bracket may be adjusted vertically so as to effect vertical shift of the motor when it is desired to tighten the belt between the motor and the clutch wheel; and

Figure 4- is a transverse section on the line -Ltf of Figure 3.

The machine which forms the subject matter of the present invention is designed to cast lines of type for printing purposes and comprises a main frame 5, a keyboard 6, magazines 'i' and distributing mechanism 8. The main frame 5 is formed of cast metal and embodies a side piece 9. The magazines '7 are supported on the central portion of the frame 5 and contain the matrices which are used in connection with the casting operation of the machine to form lines of type and are fed to assembling mechanism (not shown). Feed of the matrices to the assembling mechanism is effected by the keyboard 6 and escapement mechanism which is operated by manipulation of the keys of the keyboard. In addition to the keyboard 6, the magazines 7 and the distributing mechanism 8, the machine comprises first elevator mechanism for successively shifting coi-nplete lines of matrices into a casting position, mechanism for locking together the matrices and space bands between the matrices, mechanism for shifting the space bandsin order to effect justification or line spacing, a rotary mold dish, a pump for forcing molten metal from a pot against the matrices for slug-forming purposes, mechanism for ejecting the slugs from the mold disk and second elevator mechanism for carrying the matrices after the casting operation to the distributing mechanism 8. These parts are of standard construction and with the exception of the lever of the second elevating mechanism, are not shown in the drawings. The distributing mechanism 8 receives the matrices from the second elevator mechanism and distributes them in their proper positions in the maga zines 7.

The keyboard 6 and the assembling and distributing mechanisms are driven from a horizontally extending shaft 10 which is commonly known as the intermediate shaft of the machine. This shaft is located at one side of the main frame 5 of the machine and is ournalled in abearing 11. The keyboard 6 is driven from the shaft 10 by means of an endless belt 12. The latter extends around a pulley 13 on the shaft 10 and a pulley 14 on the drive shaft of the keyboard. The distributing mechanism 8 is driven from the shaft 10 by an endless belt 15. This belt extends around a pulley 16 on the extreme outer end of the shaft 10 and a pulley 1'? on the drive shaft of the distributing mechanism.

The first elevator mechanism, the mechai'i'ism' for locking the matrices and the space bands, the pump, the mechanism for eifectin g justification of the matrices, the second elevator mechanism and other operating parts of the machine are driven by means of a series of cams on a horizontally extending shaft 18. The latter is disposed at the back of the machine and has one end thereof journalled in a bearing 19 on the top of the side piece 9 of the main frame 5. Drive of the shaft 18 which is generally termed the cam shaft of the machine, is effected through the medium of a clutch 20. This clutch is located adjacent to the end of the shaft 18 which is journalled in the bearing 19 and comprises a wheel 21 and a Hill of radially movable shoes 22. The wheel 21 is loosely mounted on one end of a countershaft 23 and is located in close proximity to the side piece 9 of the main frame of the machine. The counte'rshaft 23 is journalled in the side piece 9 and is connected to the cam shaft 18 by a gear 23 and a pinion 18. The clutch shoes 22 are mounted on an arm 24; and are shiftable into and out of engagement with the in her p'eripheryof the wheel by links 52-5. The arm 24 extends diametrically across the space within the clutch wheel 20 and is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the countershaft 23. The links are suitably controlled from the front of the machine and are adapted,- when moved in one direction, to

shift the shoes 22 into engagement with the inner periphery of the clutch wheel so that the wheel is connected to drive the countershaft 23 and the cam shaft 18 through the medium of the arm 24. a e

The intermediate shaft 10 and the clutch are driven by meansof an electric motor 26. This motor is of the geared head type and is supported on a cast metal bracket 27 directly above the clutch 20. The bracket 27 embodies a pair of eyes 28 atthe ends thereof and has its top portion shaped so as to form a fiat, horizontally extending platform 29 for the motor 26. The motor 26 comprises an armature 30 and a casing 31. The latter embodies a gear compartment 32 at one end thereof and has feet 33 which rest upon the platform 29 of the bracket 27. The rotorshaft ofthe armature 30 extends into the gear compartment 32 and is provided with a pinion 34. This pinion meshes with a gear35 which is disposed in the gear compartment 32 and is keyed or otherwise secured to oneend of a stub shaft 36. The lat ter extends through and is journalled in a closure cap 37 for the compartment 32 and is driven through the medium of the pinion 34 and the gear 35 when current is supplied to the motor. Drive of the clutch 20 from the motor 26 is effected by means of an endless V-belt 38. The latter extends around a grooved pulley 39 on the stub shaft 36 and a grooved pulley 40 at one side of the clutch wheel 21. i The pulley 40 is secured in any suitable manner to the clutchwheel 21and operates when driven by themotor 26 to rotate the clutch wheel. By employing the V-belt 38. a drive is effected between the motor and the clutch which is exceedingly efficient in operation and is an improvement upon a pinionand gear connection in that it is silent and lesslikely to wear. An advantage and characteristic of a V-belt drive between the motor and clutch overa pinion and gear connection is that there is sufficient flexibility to take up the shock which results when the clutch shoes are shifted into engagement with the inner periphery of the clutch wheel.

Drive of the intermediate sh aft 10 from the motor 26 is effected by means of an endless V-belt 41. This belt extends around a grooved pulley43 on the stub shaft 36 and a grooved pulley 42 on the intermediate shaft. The grooved pulley 43 is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the stub shaft. 36 and is positioned outwardly of the pulley 39. By

utilizing the V-belt 41 as the driving medium for the intermediate shaft 10 instead of. connecting the shaft 10 to be driven by the clutch wheel 21 as has been done heretofore, there is little likelihood of slippage and "noload is placed upon the clutch 2O bythe mechanismsand parts which are driven by the shaft The bracket27 for supporting the motor 26 is connected to thebearing 19 at the top of the side piece 9 of the main frame of the machine by means of a pair of vertically extending tubular bolts 44. through the eyes 28 and are connected to the latter by screw thread connections 45. They rest upon the bearing 19 and are adapted when rotated to raise and lower the bracket 27 and the motor 26. When it is desired to tighten the endless V-belt 38 between the motorand the wheel 21 of the clutch, the motor 26 is raised. This is accomplished by rotating or turning the bolts 44 so as to raise the bracket 27; When it is desired to loosen the belt 38, the bolts 44 are rotated in the opposite direction so as to lower the bracket 27 and the motor 26. The bolts 44 are provided at the lower ends thereof with polygonal heads 46 so that they may be turned by f a wrench or similar turning tool. Lateral displacement of the bolts is prevented by means of a pair of vertically extending posts 47. The latter extend through the bolts and have the lower ends thereof secured to the ened, to lock the bracket 27 to the bolts 44.

The bracket 27 and the bolts 44 exemplify simpie means for supporting the motor 26 so that-it may be raised in order to tighten the endless J-belt 38. p e

in order to tighten the endless V-belt 41 between the motor and the intermediate shaft 10, the motor is shifted horizontally on the platform 29 at the top part of the bracket 27. For the purpose of facilitating shift of the motor and holding the motor in place a pair of guide pieces 49 are provided. These guide pieces are supported from the legs 33 of the motor casing 31 by bolts 50 and lit against the side edges of the platform 29 so as to form a couneeti on between the motor and the bracket wl'ierebythe motormay slid horizontally and rearwardly in order to take up the slack guide pieces 49 embody flanges 51 which fit under the side margins of the platform 29 and serve to clamp the motor in place when the bolts 50 are tightened. When it is de sired to shift the motor 26 for belt-tightening purposes, the bolts 50 are loosened and the motor is slid rearwardly. the belt 41, the bolts 50 are tightened so as to clamp the flanges 51 against the side margins of the platform 29 and thus secure the motor 26 in place. The platform 29and the guide pieces 49 on the feet of the motor casing exemplify simple means for supporting themotor so that it may be shifted horizontallyin order totighten thebelt 41. By virtue of the fact that the motor 26 islocated directly above the clutch 20, the motor may be shifted These bolts extend After tightening horizontally to tighten the belt 41 without materially affecting the belt 38.

The herein described line casting machine drive may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost and is extremely efiicient in operation. This is primarily attributable to the fact that the driving mechanism between the motor and the intermediate and cam shafts is of novel design and permits of ready installation, repair and adjustment.

The invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a line casting machine embodying an intermediate shaft at one side of the main frame thereof connected to drive the. keyboard and the assembling and distributing mechanisms, a clutch at the back of the machine comprising a drive-element and a driven element, and a shaft at the other side of the frame connected to be driven by the drive-element of the clutch and operative to drive cams for actuating other operating parts of the machine, of a motor, a drive connection between the motor and the cam shaft consisting of a pulley driven by the motor, a pulley connected to the driveelement of the clutch and an endless belt eX- tending around the two pulleys, and driving means for the intermediate shaft comprising a pulley on said shaft and an endless belt extending around the last mentioned pulley and connected to be driven by the motor.

2. The combination with a line casting machine embodying an intermediate shaft at one side of the main frame thereof connected to drive the keyboard and the assembling and distributing mechanisms, a clutch at the back of the machine comprising a drive-element and a driven element, and a shaft at the other side of the frame connected to be driven by the driven element of the clutch and operative to drivecams for actuating other operating parts of the machine, of an electric motor, a drive connection between the motor and the cam shaft consisting of a pulley connected to and driven by the motor, a pulley connected to the drive-element of the clutch and an endless belt extending around the two pulleys, and a drive connection between the motor and the intermediate shaft consisting of a pulley connected to and driven by the motor, a pulley on the intermediate shaft and an endless belt extending around the two last mentioned pulleys.

3. The combination with a line casting machine embodying an intermediate shaft at one side of the main frame thereof connec ed to drive the keyboard. and the assembling and distributing mechanisms, a clutch at the back of the machine comprising a drive-element and a driven element, and a shaft at the other side of the frame connected to be driven by the drive-element of the clutch and operative to drive cams for actuating V-belt extending around the two pulleys, and

a drive connection between the motor and the intermediate shaft consisting of a pulley associated and driven with the first mentioned. pulley of the drive connection for the cam shaft, a grooved pulley on the inter- Jediate shaft and an endless V-belt extending around the two pulleys of the drive connection forthe intermediate shaft.

4. The combination with a line casting machine embodying an intermediate shaft at one side of the main frame thereof connected to drive the keyboard and the assembling and distributing mechanisms, a clutch at the back of the machine comprising a drive-element and a driven element, and a shaft at the other side of the frame connected to be driven b the drive-element of the clutch and operative to drive cams for actuating other operating parts of the machine, of an electric motor of the geared head type, a drive connection between the motor and the cam shaft consisting of a pulley fixed to the gear-driven shaft of the motor, a pulley connected to the driveelement of the clutch and an endless belt extending around the two pulleys, and driving means for the intermediate shaft comprising a pulley on said shaft and an endless belt extending around the last mentioned pulley and connected to be driven by the motor.

5. The combination with a line casting machine embodying an intermediate shaft at one side of the main frame thereof connected to drive the keyboard and the assembling and distributing mechanisms, a clutch at the back of the machine comprising a drive-element and a driven element, and a shaft at the other side of the frame connected to be driven by the drive-element-of the clutch and operative I to drive cams for actuating other operating partsof the machine, of an electric motor of the geared head type, a drive connection between the motor and the cam shaft consisting of a pulley fixed to the gear-driven shaft of the motor, a pulley connected to the drive-element of the clutch and an endless belt extending around the two pulleys, and a drive connection between themotor and the intermediate shaft consisting on the aforesaid geared shaft of the motor, a pulley on the intermediate shaft and an endless belt extending around the two last mentioned pulleys.

' 6. The combination with a line casting maof a pulley chine embodying an intermediate shaft at one side of the main frame thereof connected to drive the keyboard and the assembling and i i distributing mechanisms, a clutch at the back of the machine comprising a drive-element and a driven element, and a shaft at the other side of the frame connected to be driven by the drive-element of the clutch and operative to drive cams for actuating other operating parts of the machine, of an electric motor, a

belt and pulley connection between the motor and the drive-element of the clutch, a belt and a pulley connection between the motor and the tive to drivecams for actuating other operintermediate shaft, and means for supportating parts of the machine, of an electric Inotor positioned above the clutch, a belt and pulley connection between the motor and the drive-element of the clutch, a belt and pulley connection between the motor and the ing the motor so that it may be shifted vertically to, tighten the belt of the first mentioned connection and so that it may be shifted laterally in order to tighten the belt of the second mentioned connection.

8. The combination with a line casting machine embodying an intermediate shaft at one side of the main frame thereof connected to drive the keyboard and the assembling and distributing mechanisms, a clutch at the back of the machine comprising a drive-element and a driven element, and a shaft at the other side of the frame connected to be driven by the drive-element of the clutch and operative to drive cams for actuating other operating parts of the machine, of an electric motor positioned above the clutch, a belt and pulley connection between the motor and the drive-element of the clutch, a belt and pulley connection between the motor and the intermediate shaft, a bracket for supporting the motor connected to the frame of the machine so that it may be shifted vertically in order to raise the motor when it is desired to tighten the belt of the first mentioned connection, and a sliding connection between the motor and the bracket whereby the motor may be shifted laterally when it is desired to tighten the belt of the second mentioned connection. Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 19th day of November, 1931.

FRANK W. SEVERIN. 

